STARTLING  CONFESSIONS 

OF  THE  — • 

TERRIBLE  DEEDS 


0  F 


HENRI   MADISON, 

And  Ms  AsSociate  and  Accomplice, 

*MISS  ELLEN  STEVENS, 

Who  was  Executed  by  the  Vigipnce  Committee  of  San  Franci&feo,  on  the  20th 
v  of  September  htst 


Arrrst  of  Miss  Ellen  Stevens. 


EDITED  BY  REV.  P.  SIIELDEN  DRtRY. 


PHILADKLPIirA  : 
PUBLISHED    BY   B  A II  CLAY    &    CO.,    7  -°  4   MARKET    STREET. 


TIR1LLI1  NARRATIVE 


OF  THE 


OF 


HENRY  MADISON, 

And  his  Associate  and  Accomplice, 

MISS  ELLEN  STEVENS, 

Who  was  executed  by  the  Vigilance  Committee  of  Saa  Francisco, 
on  the  20th  September  last. 


Miss  Ellen  Stevens. 


EDITED  BY  REV.  P.  SHELDEN  DB-UEY. 

CINCINNATI: 
PUBLISHED   BY   BARCLAY    &    CO.,  234    MAIN    ST. 


according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1907,  by 

BARCLAY    A    CO. 
tn  tin  Clerk'a  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  Dtatrlct  of 


4-H-  oco 

Bancroft  U 


STARTLING 

AND 

THRILLING  EXTRACTS 

FROM  THE  JOURNAL   OF 

HENEY  MADISON. 


WHEN  I  think  on  the  past — contemplate  the  future — the  excited 
blood  of  imagination  boils  through  my  veins ;  my  mind  becomes  ex 
cited  to  a  pitch  of  desperation  unknown  to  those  who  have  not  suffered 
as  I  have  done,  those  who  have  not  seen  the  world  go  against  them, 
those  who  have  been  smiled  and  favored  on,  whilst  I  have  been  tram 
pled,  spat  upon,  kicked  on  one  side  as  if  I  were  a  very  monster.  I  am 
that ;  I  have  done  all — driven  by  contempt  and  desperation  I  am  worse  ! 
But  I  must  complete  my  tale,  and  think  not  of  my  misfortunes. 
****** 

I  was  born  in  Walnut  street  Philadelphia  above  Tenth.  My  father 
was  a  wealthy  merchant  keeping  his  office  on  the  wharf;  prosperous  and 
rich,  he  gave  freely  to  the  needy,  educated  myself  and  my  sisters  (I  was 
an  only  son)  in  a  manner  princely  at  the  same  time  substantial.  My  sis 
ters  had  Italian,  French  and  dancing  masters,  I  Hebrew,  Greek  and 
Latin,  drawing  and  painting — everything  that  would  fit  us  to  move  in 
the  highest  circles  in  this  or  more  aristocratic  countries.  With  all  this, 
he  did  not  neglect  to  have  my  sisters  instructed  in  sewing,  embroidery, 
and  other  useful  household  arts.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  took  me  into 
his  counting-house.  I  was  there  till  I  became  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
when  the  progress  I  had  made  in  becoming  fully  acquainted  with  mer 
cantile  transactions,  and  the  inclination  which  my  disposition  shewed  to 
follow  such  pursuits,  induced  him  to  admit  me  a  junior  partner ;  this  was 
in  the  year  1846.  At  that  time  great  exportations  of  corn  and  flour  were 
taking  place  from  Philadelphia,  New  York,  New  Orleans,  Baltimore  and 
other  ports  to  famine-stricken  Ireland.  We  were  extensively  engaged  in 
this  shipping  trade,  and  during  the  first  year  made  great  profits.  Our 

9 


10  THRILLING  EXTRACTS  FROM  THB 

connections  became  enormous.  The  year  1847  came  ;  the  tide  of  affairs 
took  a  different  turn.  Our  correspondents  in  Europe  failed  in  their 
engagements  and  the  house  of  G.,  K.,  L.  &  Co.  stopped  payment.  My 
lather  who  had  been  in  a  delicate  state  of  health  for  some  months  past 
through  over  excitement  from  the  speculative  business  he  was  engaged 
in,  soon  gave  way  to  the  disease  which  had  firmly  seized  upon  him.  On 
his  death  bed  he  charged  me  to  give  up  all  to  his  creditors,  pay  every 
cent  he  owed  as  far  as  his  assets  would  admit  of,  and  trust  to  God  and 
our  own  industry  for  the  maintainance  of  my  sisters  and  myself. 

What  a  change  from  wealth  to  poverty  1     We  who  have  been  accus 
tomed  to  every  luxury  and  want  that  the  former  supplied,  reduced  to 
what  the  latter  scantily  afforded !     However,  the  good  education  that 
both  I  and  my  sisters  had  received  now  saved  us.    They  took  in  sewing 
etc. ;  I  got  a  situation  as  salesman  or  clerk  in  a  large  dry-goods  store  in 
Market  street.     There  it  was  I  became  first  acquainted  with  Miss  All- 
worth.     One  day  a  gentleman  from  Baltimore  walked  into  our  store  ac 
companied  by  Miss  Allworth ;  he  was  her  uncle  and  a  good  customer  to 
the  house.     I  was  immediately  struck  by  her  handsome  appearance,  for 
she  was  indeed  a  lovely  girl.     During  their  stay  in  the  store,  I  became 
quite  enamored  of  her,  and  hearing  from  the  conversation  that  passed 
between  her  uncle  and  my  employer,  whereabouts  they  stopped  in  town, 
1  resolved  at  all  hazards  to  call  at  the  United  States  Hotel  where  they 
stopped,  and   endeavor  to    become    acquainted  with    her.      Fortune 
favored  me ;  during  her  stay  in  the  store,  I  succeeded  in  getting  into  con 
versation  with  her ;  she  had  known  one  of  my  sisters  who  had  been  on  a 
visit  to  a  friend  in  Baltimore.    I  called  accordingly,  saw  her,  spoke,  and 
on  the  third  visit,  found  to  my  joy  that  I  had  made  some  impression— I 
imagined  a  sure  one.     Her  uncle  left  her  at  a  friend's  in  Chesnut  street, 
to  spend  a  few  weeks,  while  he  returned  to  Baltimore.     Daily  my  suit 
progressed  ;  I  was  her  accepted  lover.   Woman,  how  deceitful  is  thy  sex. 
We  had  settled  between  ourselves  that  we  should  be  married  in  about 
three  months  if  her  uncle  consented,  as  he  was  her  guardian.     I  had 
informed  my  sisters  of  our  engagement,  and  they  were  delighted  at  my 
happiness,  as  great  affection  existed  between  us.     One  evening  I  called, 
and  as  I  entered  the  house  a  handsome  looking  Frenchman  left  it — 1 
was  received  by  Kose  with  a  degree  of  coldness  never  before  experienced. 
In  two  or  three  days,  I  found  to  my  mortification,  that  the  wily  French 
man  had  ingratiated  himself  into  Kose's  affections.     In  vain  I  pleaded 
to  the  heartless  coquette.     She  was  sorry  that  we  had  become  so  inti 
mate,  as  she  found  our  tastes  did  not  suit.   I  would  be  happy  with  some 


JOURNAL  OF  HENEY  MADISON. 

one  else.  I  left  the  haughty  beauty  with  rage  and  mortification.  I  re 
solved  to  be  revenged.  Having  heard  that  an  old  woman  who  told 
fortunes,  cured  all  sorts  of  diseases  with  herbs,  lived  in  an  alley  at  the 
corner  of  Christian  and  Third  streets,  I  went  thither  and  by  the  aid  of 
gold  obtained  a  deadly  poison,  but  at  the  same  time  that  it  killed  it  left 
no  traces  of  itself  in  the  human  frame  whereby  it  could  be  detected. 
My  object  now  was  to  get  this  administered  to  my  intended  victim. 
She  had  a  maid  who  had  been  in  our  secret,  and  who  had  professed  a 
great  liking  for  me.  She  had  been  very  much  hurt  at  her  mistress's 
treatment  of  me.  I  pretended  to  her  that  it  was  a  love  potion  capable 
0f  restoring  the  affection  of  her  mistress  to  myself,  and  that  together 
with  a  bribe  succeeded  in  obtaining  her  consent  to  administer  the  powder. 
A  week,  nearly  a  month,  passed  by.  The  object  of  my  revenge  still  lived 
apparently  in  all  her  former  health  and  beauty. 

I  doubted  her  maid,  but  she  assured  me  that  Miss  All  worth  had  taken 
the  powder,  and  condoled  with  me  on  its  apparent  want  of  success,  in 
restoring  the  lost  affections  of  my  former  mistress.  Another  week, 
and  Rose  was  to  become  the  bride  of  my  rival.  Daily,  as  I  passed  the 
kouse  in  which  she  stopped,  I  saw  numerous  deliverings  of  goods  of  all 
descriptions  taking  place ;  they  were  preparing  for  a  happy  wedding  I 
was  passing  one  evening  three  days  before  the  bridal ;  a  carriage  drove 
by  me  and  stopped  ;  in  it  sat  Rose  and  her  affianced.  A  frown  passed 
over  his  countenance,  as  he  recognized  me.  She  looked  coldly  at  me  as 
if  she  merely  gazing  on  a  stone.  My  bosom  swelled  ready  to  burst  with 
anger,  mortification  and  revenge.  I  hurried  away,  my  brain  on  fire,  every 
sense  maddened  and  excited.  I  directed  my  steps  to  the  residence  of  the 
old  hag  from  whom  I  had  bought  the  poison ;  she  recognized  me  at  once. 
I  upbraided  her  in  no  measured  terms  for  her  deceit ;  she  listened  to 
me  patiently,  and  when  I  had  exhausted  my  abusive  vocabulary,  she 
quietly  remarked,  "  How  long  since  the  potion  had  been  given  3"  I  re 
plied,  twenty-seven  days. 

"  It'is  well,"  she  replied,  "wait  patiently  three  more,  and  your  object  is 
accomplished.  I  have  never  known  it  fail." 

I  could  get  no  more  information.  The  bridal-day  has  come  at  last 
She  has  been  married — there  is  a  grand  entertainment.  Her  gratified 
husband  leads  her  to  the  dance,  and  as  she  passes  through  the  crowded 
rooms,  words  of  admiration  of  her  beauty  and  accomplishments,  fall 
quick  upon  her  ear.  The  musicians  struck  up ;  she  advances  in  the , 
dance,  and  falls  a  lifeless  corpse.  Hurrah !  my  revenge  is  accomplished. 
I  read  from  the  morning  Ledger : 


12  THRILLING  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 

"  Horrible  occurrence. — We  have  to  record  a  most  melancholy  and 
heart-rending  occurrence  last  night.  As  the  friends  of  Miss  All  worth,  long 
known  in  this  city  as  a  reigning  belle,  were  enjoying  the  wedding  festivi 
ties,  the  young  lady  advanced  with  her  newly-married  husband  to  take 
part  in  a  quadrille.  She  had  not  taken  above  two  steps,  when  she  sud 
denly  fell,  and  on  being  raised  was  found  a  corpse.  Truly  in  life  we  are 
in  the  midst  of  death." 

My  revenge  is  complete,  but  now  the  remorse  of  a  guilty  conscience 
attacks  me.     I  have  drank  of  the  cup  of  crime,  and  I  must  now,  like  the 
drunkard,  constantly  renew  the  cup. 
*  *  *  *  • 

Time  flew  by.    No  suspicion  as  to  the  cause  of  Miss  Allworth's  death 
was  excited,  as  the  coroner  and  jury  gave  it  as  their  opinion,  that  she  died 
of  apoplexy.    My  revenge  was  complete,  but  my  mind  was  not  at  ea'se. 
I  could  not  rest.     I  resolved  to  leave  Philadelphia.    An  aunt  had  lately 
died,  leaving  money  sufficient  to  keep  my  sisters  comfortably.     I  left, 
and  went  to  San  Francisco.     One  of  the  many  crimes  that  I  committed 
there  I  will  relate.    Disgusted  at  the  duplicity  of  woman,  I  resolved  to 
trust  none  again.   I  had  not  been  many  months  in  California,  when  I  be 
came  acquainted  with  a  beautiful,  accomplished  and  affectionate  young 
lady.     Though  I  had  forsworn  the  fair  sex,  her  charms  soon  affected  me. 
I  found  in  her  that  which  I  had  began  to  fear  no  woman  possessed,  but 
I,  like  many  others  who  have  been  disappointed  in  the  first  love,  was  de 
ceived.    There  does  exist  among  woman  the  most  pure  and  devoted 
love,  for  I  found  it  to  my  joy  in  Miss  Wilson.     We  both  loved  with 
strong  fervor.    Would  those  happy  days  had  never  past,  that  the  demon 
of  jealousy  had  never  seized  upon  me.    We  were  married  and  pleasantly 
passed  the  first  three  years  of  our  married  life.     One  lovely  child  was 
born  to  us.    The  horrid  memories  of  the  past  were  nearly  obliterated 
from  my  mind,  amid  the  domestic  happiness  that  I  enjoyed— the  bitter 
thoughts  of  my  past  crimes  gradually  gave  way  to  the  more  soothing 
influence  of  the  former.     My  wife,  though,  had  seen  by  my  manner  that 
something  preyed  upon  my  mind,  and  never  attempted  by  undue  curiosity 
to  find  out  what  it  was  that  weighed  upon  my  thoughts.     Gentle,  kind 
and  loving,  she  endeavored  to  the  best  of  her  power  to  soothe  my  troubled 
mind.    She  succeeded,  and  I  may  say  I  was  comparatively  at  rest.    But 
it  turned  out  that  events  of  the  past  had  taken  too  deep  a  hold  on  my 
nature.    Keturning  one  evening  from  my  store  on  the  south  wharf,  1 
found  my  Ellen  gloomy  and  sad.    I  could  discover  no  cause,  and  though 
I  questioned  her,  she  merely  pleaded  a  little  fatigue.    My  conscience 


JOURNAL  OF  HENRY  MADISON.  la 

me.  Attracted  by  the  features  of  a  new  actress  who  had  just  made 
her  first  appearance  on  the  boards  of  San  Francisco,  whom  my  wife  and 
self  had  been  to  see,  I  had  visited  her.  Lured  on  by  her  fatal  attrac 
tions,  I  yielded  the  affections  due  to  my  wife.  In  the  excitement  of  my 
passion,  I  became  fearful  that  the  latter  had  discovered  some  clue  to  my 
transgressions.  On  returning  to  our  chamber,  I  questioned  her  still 
more  closely  as  to  the  cause  of  her  indisposition,  and  at  length  after  im 
mense  persuasion  and  with  scalding  tears  in  her  eyes,  she  informed  me 
of  the  following.  That  morning  about  eleven  o'clock,  she  was  surprised 
by  the  visit  of  her  brother  from  Philadelphia,  who  came  to  inform  her 
of  the  crime  of  which  I  had  been  guilty.  Thunderstruck  at  my  dupli 
city  and  crime,  he  had  hurried  to  San  Francisco,  accompanied  by  the 
proofs  of  my  guilt,  to  inform  his  father  and  relations,  and  at  once  to 
take  proceedings  against  me.  Ellen  told  me  all,  and  added  that  she 
did  not  believe  it.  I  soothed  her  agonized  feelings,  assured  her  that  it 
was  all  a  conspiracy  ;  her  brother  was  deceived  by  some  designing 
villain.  Calmed  by  my  asseverations,  she  slept  soundly  on  my  bosom. 
The  morning  came  ;  I  rose  early,  as  was  always  my  habit,  for  with  my 
brain  clear  and  unclouded  I  felt  better  able  to  decide  on  the  best  course 
of  action  in  this  trying  embarrassment.  I  resolved  to  see  her  brother  at 
once.  Our  morning  meal  over,  I  kissed  Ellen  and  started  for  his  hotel. 
Now  it  was  that  I  indeed  repented  of  my  former  guilt  and  revenge  ; 
yet  I  felt  that  it  was  a  just  punishment  for  my  unfaithfulness  to  my 
loving  and  devoted  wife.  I  found  him  at  home,  and  at  once  demanded 
what  was  the  meaning  of  the  false  accusations  that  he  had  made  against 
me.  He  answered,  by  requesting  me  to  be  seated,  and  stated  as  fol 
lows: 

"  You  are  aware,  Mr.  Madison,  that  shortly  after  your  marriage 
with  my  sister,  I  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  I  had  got  an  engagement 
in  a  large  wholesale  general  store.  In  a  large  city,  a  young  man  unac 
companied  or  restrained  by  those  who  have  an  interest  in  his  welfare,  ia 
likely  to  mix  with  company  who  may  lead  him  into  the  paths  that  he 
ought  not  to  follow.  I,  situated  as  I  describe,  have  mixed  in  improper 
society  ;  and  it  was  among  that  society  that  I  heard  first  of  what  you 
have  called  a  false  accusation."  I  started  with  indignation  from  my 


"  Listen,"  said  he,  pointing  to  the  chair  ;  "  when  I  have  done  you 
shall  be  heard,  and  I  hope,  for  your  sake  as  well  as  my  sister's,  that 
your  assertions  may  be  true.  About  two  months  ago,  walking  up  Ches- 
nut  street  one  afternoon,  I  passed  a  rather  pretty  young  woman.  I  fan 


16  THRILLING  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 

cied  her  glance  peculiar,  and,  turning,  I  repassed  her  quickly;  and 
when  I  had  proceeded  about  a  square,  again  turned  round  and  met  her. 
She  «ave  a  kind  of  half-smile.  It  was  just  at  the  crossing  of  I 
6treet°  I  turned  and  walked  into  the  square  at  the  back  of  the  state- 
house  I  looked  back  two  or  three  times,  and  found  that  she  was  follow 
ing  As  soon  as  she  entered  the  square,  I  walked  by  her  side  and  soon 
became  well  acquainted.  I  met  her  that  evening,  by  appointment,  at  a 
house  of  rather  suspicious  character.  We  became  intimately  acquamt- 
ed  •  and,  I  must  say,  I  felt  drawn  toward  this  girl— Ellen  Stevens. 

I  started  again,  (the  very  person  I  had  employed  to  1 
worth  was  here  brought  against  me).     I  trembled  to  hear  the  rest. 
"  Are  you  ill  2"  inquired  Wilson,  in  a  tone  of  alarm. 
«  Merely  a  spasm,"  I  repeated.     It  was  over,  and  I  managed 
trol  my  emotions.    He  continued : 

"  I  met  her  frequently  for  several  months.    One  day  she 
asked  me  what  I  intended  to  do— as  she  informed  me  that  she  was  preg- 
nant-and  did  I  intend  to  fulfill  a  promise  once  made  of  marrying  her  1 
1  evaded  the  latter  portion  of  her  question  by  stating  that  I  would  see 
the  child  properly  cared  for,  and  allow  her  a  maintainance  sufficient 
live  upon     This  meeting  occured  about  three  months  since.     She  grew 
furious  at  my  reply,  called  me  the  worst  of  names ;  and,  upbraided  now 
by  tears  then  by  the  most  violent  passion,  unable  to  calm  her  and  un 
willing  to  yield  to  her  demands,  knowing  that  she  was  a  guilty  creature 
previous  to  my  meeting  her,  I  left  her  to  her  own  thoughts  in  hopes  that 
L  absence  would  soothe  her  ruffled  and  violent  temper, 
desired  effect,  for  the  following  morning  I  received  a  note  from  her  re 
questing  me  to  come  to  her  that  day  and  that  she  would  forgive  all  if  I 
kept  the  promise  I  had  made  the  day  previous,  namely,  provide  a  suit- 
able  maintainance  for  her  and  the  offspring  that  she  expected     I  wen 
and  found  her  calm  and  reasonable.     I  left  and  returned  in  the  after 
noon  with  a  friend  who  witnessed  the  agreement  I  had  had  diawn  up 
by  an  attorney.     She  was  perfectly  satisfied  or  at  least  seemed _  to .to. 
Three  days  afterward  I  visited  her  again,  and  found  her  m  a  state  of 
beastly  intoxication.    Though  I  had  often  seen  her  drunk,  I  never  saw 
her  m  tiau"  ate  before.    SlTe  flew  at  me  the  moment  I  entered  the  room, 
S  d  me  a  monster  and  a  villain,  declared  I  should  marry  her  or  she 
wou'd  expose  me.   In  her  maddened  frenzy,  she  gave  utterance  to  the  fol- 
lowC  ^  You  are  as  great  a  monster  as  Henry  Madison  who  poisoned 
MrAllwlth,  and  alerward  went  to  California.'    Whatt    I  replied, 
thunderstruck  with  amazement,  and  married  my  sister 


JOURNAL  OF  HENRY  MADISON.  17 

" { Ha,  ha !'  she  replied,  with  a  brutal  laugh,  c  if  you  ruined  me,  I 
have  revenge  in  knowing  that  your  sister  is  as  bad  as  lam.5  Monster, 
I  exclaimed,  and  maddened  by  her  taunt  I  rushed  from  the  room.  Foi 
some  hours  my  senses  seemed  gone  astray.  Could  her  accusations  of 
you  be  true?  I  inquired  of  myself;  if  they  were,  what  ruin  and  dis 
grace  had  you  brought  upon  me  and  mine !  I  resolved  to  sift  the  matter 
out.  I  accordingly  went  to  a  friend  who,  though  not  known  to  you  per 
sonally,  had  often  seen  you  in  Philadelphia ;  from  him  I  learned  of  your 
former  love  for  Miss  Allworth,  of  her  slighting  you  and  marrying  an 
other,  and  of  her  awful  and  sudden  death  on  her  bridal  night.  « There 
seemed  a  degree  of  mystery  about  the  matter  which  we  both  felt  bound 
and  determined  to  penetrate.  He  inquired  the  name  of  the  woman  with 
whom  I  associated.  I  replied,  Ellen  Stevens.  '  Why,  he  replied,'  that 
is  the  very  girl  who  was  maid  to  Miss  Allfporth  at  the  time  of  her  en 
gagement  to  Madison.  There  may  be  some  truth  in  it,  we  had  better 
proceed  at  once  and  inquire  further  of  her.'  We  started  for  her  resi 
dence,  and  found  her  somewhat  more  sober  than  before.  She  rushed  to 
me  on  my  entrance,  and  besought  me  not  to  mind  what  she  had  said  in 
her  passion,  that  it  was  not  the  truth,  and  that  it  might  get  her  into 
trouble.  I  replied,  that  it  was  now  too  late  ;  asking  her  to  state  the  full 
particulars,  and  assuring  her  that  no  harm  should  come  to  her  for  so 
doing.  For  some  time  she  obstinately  refused,  stating  that  she  knew  not 
what  she  said.  At  length,  on  my  informing  her  that  if  she  did  not 
voluntarily  inform  us,  we  would  be  obliged  to  bring  her  before  a  magis 
trate,  and  convinced  by  our  manner  that  we  were  serious,  she  said  :  4  Be 
it  so ;  all  I  know  is  that  Henry  Madison  bought  the  poison  of  an  old 
hag  living  in  an  alley  near  the  corner  of  Christian  and  Third  streets,  who 
sold  herb  medicine,  etc.  You  can  easy  find  her  by  inquiring  for  Madge 
Faust.  He  endeavored  to  persuade  me  to  administer  it  to  Miss  Rose, 
stating  that  it  was  a  love  powder.  I  refused.  He  afterward  informed 
me,  he  had  succeeded  in  doing  so  himself,  at  the  same  time  saying  that 
her  affections  would  soon  return  to  him.  A  month  was  nearly  passed, 
and  full  arrangements  had  been  made  for  Miss  Allworth's  marriage  with 
Mons.  Silvester,  when  one  day  I  accidently  met  Madison  in  the  street ; 
I  said,  your  love  potion  does  not  seem  to  take  much  effect.  Wait  a 
little,  he  replied  ;  I  will  be  revenged  on  her  bridal  night.  You  know 
the  rest — fear  kept  me  silent.  From  her  who  sold  him  the  powder  I 
heard  of  its  being  poison.'  When  she  had  concluded  we  rose,  inform 
ing  her  that  I  would  soon  be  back,  and  that  she  would  have  to  appear 
as  witness  against  you,  if  we  found  her  statement  correct,  we  hastened 
2 


1$  THRILLING  EXTRACTS  FROM  TUB 

to  the  poison  seller's  habitation.  On  onr  way  thither,  it  was  resolved 
between  us  that  I  only  should  go  in  and  endeavor  to  procure  some  of 
this  poison  from  her.  After  a  little  search  we  found  her  residence  out 
I  entered  and  found  her  sitting  by  the  dying  embers  of  a  pitiful  fire 
she  turned  on  her  stool  as  I  entered,  and  in  a  squeaking  and  angry  tone 
demanded  my  business.  After  a  few  preliminary  remarks,  I  stated  that 
1  required  a  love  powder  to  restore  me  the  affections  of  my  mistress. 

"  ;  Ha !  ha  !'  said  she,  in  a  hoarse  and  feeble  laugh,  c  such  powders  aa 
tell  no  tales,  leave  no  trace  behind,  whereby  the  hangman  is  defrauded 
of  his  duties.     Do  you  know  my  price  ?'  she  demanded,  staring  me  full 
in  the  face  and  reading  witn  her  searching  and  cat-like  eye  every  feature 
and  movement  of  my  countenance.     I  replied  not ;  but  I  supposed  five 
dollars  would  pay  her.    «  Fiye  dollars',  she  screamed,  in  reply  ;  c  nor  ten 
times  five;  out  with  you  all,  some  silly  fool  has  sent  you  here;   out 
with  you  ;  leave  me,'  she  exclaimed,  pointing  to  the  door.     I  remained, 
resolving  to  parley  with  her  and  endeavor  to  obtain  the  information,  1 
required^     Money  I  am  willing  to  give— whatever  you  demand— name 
your  price.     '  Four  hundred  dollars  ;'  she  abruptly  replied.  ^  Agre§ed, 
said  I.     c  Who  told  you  to  come  here  V  she  inquired  ;  '  there  is  but  one 
that  I  have  lately  sold  to,  one  Madison,  his  lady  love  was  Miss  Allworth, 
a  haughty  beauty  ;  her  affections  returned  to  him  in  the  grave— ha,  ha !' 
she  continued,  with  a  wild  and  brutal  laugh.     She  went  to  a  corner  of 
the  room,  and  from  out  a  cup-board  took  a  small  bottle  containing  some 
white  mixture  or  powder.     She  put  about  five  grains  in  a  paper,  and 
folded  it  up.     Whilst  doing  this,  she  kept  half  addressing  me,  and 
half  to  herself.     '  Oh  !'  this  is  beautiful  in  its  effects  ;  it  does  the  deed 
BO  calm,  and  quietly ;  it  has  been  handed  down  from  generation  to  gen 
eration  'of  our  family  since  my  ancestress,  Gunnora,  poisoned  the  good 
King  Edward  by  base  Northumberland's  order.   Ay !  in  the  land  I  came 
from,  it  is  often  used  by  the  nobles  of  the  land.     I  have  known  one  fail- 
girl,  'the  daughter  of  a  peer,  who  sacrificed  her  honor  to  love ;  her 
father  indignant  at  the  stain  that  was  likely  to  appear  upon  his  name, 
and  too  proud  to  allow  her,  though  her  lover  longed  to  marry  her,  ad 
ministered  a  small  portion  of  this  every  week  for  a  month,  and  in  three 
more  she  was  a  corpse  by  a  slow  and  torturing  death.     One  half  this 
will  have  its  effect  in  a  month.     And  now  the  money  ;'  she  continued, 
drawing  her  stool  close  to  the  chair  on  which  I  sat.     Depositing  the 
paper  of  poison  in  her  pocket,  she  watched  with  eager  eyes  while  I  drew 
forth  my  pocket-book  and  counted  to  her  the  money,  which  I  had  in 
tended  to  have  given  Ellen  Stevens,  and  for  which  purpose  I  had  it 


JOURNAL  OF  HENRY  MADISON.  21 

about  me.  Her  looks  kindled  with  a  wild  and  hellish  animation  as  she 
gazed  upon  the  gold,  and  when  I  gave  her  a  twenty-dollar  bill,  to  make 
up  the  required  sum,  her  eyes  flashed  with  rage.  c  Give  me  gold,'  she 
said ;  CI  want  not  your  flimsy  paper.  I  like  the  gold,  the  bright  and 
beautiful  gold,  that  sparkles  with  love  and  happiness ;'  and  as  she  spoke 
she  grasped  the  coin  with  a  violence  that  made  the  blood  swell  up  her 
withered  veins.  I  have  no  more  gold,  I  replied,  but  will  bring  you 
more  to-morrow,  and  will  add  the  like  sum  to  it,  on  your  informing  me 
who  administered  the  powder  to  Miss  Allworth — as  I  would  like  to  en 
gage  that  person  to  do  the  same  for  me.  'Bring  me  the  gold,'  she  re 
plied,  '  and  I  will  tell  you.'  Tell  me  now,  I  answered,  and  I  will  double 
the  sum.  '  How  arn  I  to  know  that  you  will  keep  your  promise  ?'  said 
she ;  '  however,  I  will  trust  you — one  Ellen  Stevens,  an  ungrateful 
hussy.'  She  handed  me  the  powder,  and  I  rose  from  my  seat  and  said : 
Now,  monster,  in  woman's  shape,  I  go  to  get  those  who  will  punish  you 
for  your  crimes.  She  made  a  rush  at  me  but  she  was  too  feeble  to  pro 
ceed  far.  She  stopped,  and  shaking  her  withered  arm  at  me,  said :  c  Go, 
I  defy  them  to  punish  me  ; — they  can  not  swear  that  powder  kills  ; — they 
can  find  no  trace  of  poison  in  it ; — it  defies  all  their  skill !'  I  waited  to 
hear  no  more,  but  joining  my  friend,  we  returned  to  Ellen's,  and  told 
her  "that  what  she  had  stated  was  true,  not  saying  anything  about  our 
having  ascertained  that  she  administered  the  poison.  We  then  pro 
ceeded  to  the  mayors,  and  procured  a  warrant  for  their  arrest ;  they  are 
both  in  the  city.  There  is  a  warrant  from  the  chief  magistrate  of  this 
city  to  arrest  you.  I  wish  to  give  you  time  to  collect  evidence  to  defend 
this  charge,  as  I,  as  well  as  my  father,  am  concerned  that  you  may  prove 
yourself  guiltless ;  and  I  have  therefore  delayed  the  execution  of  the 
warrant." 

He  stopped,  and  waited  for  me  to  reply.  There  was  yet  a  chance  of 
escape.  Delay  was  all  I  required.  I  knew  and  felt  my  guilt.  I  replied 
firmly  and  calmly  that  I  was  not  guilty  of  the  deed  attributed  to  me ; 
that  it  was  a  gross  conspiracy,  and  that,  if  he  would  get  bail  for  my  ap 
pearance  to  answer  the  charge,  I  was  confident  I  could  procure  two  ma* 
terial  witnesses  from  Philadelphia  who  would  prove  that  it  was 'all  a. 
got-up  conspiracy — a  pack  of  most  flagrant  lies,  as  well  as  of  imposi 
tion.  The  very  idea  of  thinking  for  a  moment  that  poison  would  show 
no  effects  of  its  existence  in  the  human  frame  for  the  space  of  a  month, 
and  that  there  it  left  no  inward  trace  behind,  was  perfectly  preposterous 
Convinced  by  my  arguments,  and  anxious  to  prove  me  guiltless,  he 
consented  to  my  proposal.  We  went  at  once  to  a  magistrate  ;  I  de- 


22  THRILLING  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 

livered  myself  up ;  bail  was  entered  for  my  appearance,  and  I 
again  free.  By  the  advice  of  the  lawyer  engaged  to  defend  me,  a  trustj 
messenger  was  dispatched  to  Philadelphia  to  procure  the  two  witnesses 
I  required,  or  rather  professed  to  require.  As  I  knew  of  none,  it  was 
merely  a  scheme  to  gain  time  to  develop  a  plan  I  had  made  in  my  own 
mind.  By  blood  I  had  fallen  into  trouble ;  by  blood  I  should  escape. 
There  was  no  other  means  by  which  to  get  two  months  to  complete  my 
plans ;  for  before  that  time  nothing  further  could  be  heard  from  Phil 
adelphia. 

Ellen  Stevens  and  the  old  hag  remained  in  custody,  though  treated 
kindly  and  well. 

I  attended  to  my  business  as  formerly.  Five  years  had  passed  since 
the  death  of  my  father.  When  I  looked  back  upon  it,  what  a  short 
space  it  appeared,  yet  through  what  a  variety  of  changes  had  I  gone ! 
Then  I  was  innocent,  happy,  and  free  from  guilt ;  now,  I  was  a  self-con 
demned  wretch,  deserving  the  punishment  which  others  less  guilty  have 
often  received.  Ellen,  my  loving,  doting  wife,  was  fonder,  more  de 
voted  than  ever ;  she  believed  firmly  that  my  accusers  were  base,  and 
their  asseverations  false ;  and  daily,  as  I  received  her  kind  attentions, 
how  I  repented  my  former  hastiness  of  temper,  that  had  brought  me 
into  such  trouble,  and  utter  ruin,  both  of  body  and  soul.  There  seems 
to  hang  over  some  in  this  world  a  fate  which  guides  them  to  that  which 
their  conscience  dictates  to  be  wrong.  I  am  one  of  those. 


A  month  had  passed.  I  found  there  was  no  longer  time  for  delay ; 
so  I  collected  all  the  ready  money  I  could  possibly  call  together,  and  en 
gaged  a  passage  in  a  vessel  bound  for  Liverpool,  on  board  of  which  I 
had  sent  a  quantity  of  goods.  The  agent  of  the  vessel  knew  nothing 
about  me,  save  that  I  was  an  extensive  merchant. 

The  vessel  was  to  sail  on  the  28th  of  July,  1852.    This  was  the  27th 


.•-• 


JOURNAL  OP  HENRY  MADISON.  23 

I  bad  determined  and  agreed  to  join  a  party  going  by  an  overland  route 
to  New  York,  via  St.  Louis,  on  the  same  day.  They  knew  nothing  of 
me.  The  crime  I  have  contemplated  I  was  resolved  on  committing ; 
first  to  gratify  my  revenge  on  Ellen's  brother ;  secondly,  for  jealousy 
lest  another  might  hereafter  enjoy  her  affections. 

My  reason  for  engaging  the  two  routes  will  be  shown  hereafter. 

The  evening  of  the  27th  came.  I  left  my  office,  my  pockets  well 
lined  with  cash.  On  my  way  home  I  met  the  two  marauders  whom  I 
had  employed  to  execute  my  purpose.  They  followed  me,  and  after  en 
tering  the  house,  I  admitted  them  privately  by  a  gate  into  a  small  garden 
at  the  rear  of  the  house,  where  they  were  enabled  to  conceal  themselves. 
I  had  told  them,  when  they  heard  a  pistol-shot,  to  commence  operations 
by  entering  the  kitchen,  binding  the  servants,  and  after  rifling  the  house 
to  make  off  as  fast  as  they  could.  The  house  was  situated  in  a  lonely 
part  of  the  town,  well  fitted  for  the  purpose  we  were  engaged  in. 

I  went  up  stairs  unnoticed  by  the  servants,  as  I  had  a  latch-key  to  ad 
mit  myself.  Not  finding  my  wife  in  the  sitting-room,  I  entered  our 
chamber.  She  lay  asleep,  with  our  infant  in  her  arms ;  how  beautiful 
she  looked — so  innocent — so  happy — and  so  lovely ! 

Had  I  not  the  heart  of  a  monster,  I  would  have  fallen  upon  my  knees 
and  embraced  her,  praying  God  to  forgive  me  for  the  crimes  I  had  com 
mitted  and  the  thoughts  I  entertained.  As  it  was,  I  walked  to  the  bedside, 
stooped,  and  softly  gave  her  a  kiss ;  and  as  I  did  so  a  happy  smile  seemed 
to  cross  her  countenance ;  tears  burst  involuntarily  from  my  eyes,  and 
I  was  on  the  point  of  relinquishing  my  foul  ideas,  when — revenge,  love 
of  life,  selfishness — name  it  what  you  will — an  evil  thought  predomi 
nated  ; — the  tempter  succeeded.  I  had  previously  quietly  bolted  the 
door ;  ascending  from  the  kitchen  to  the  other  apartments,  I  drew  a 
pistol  from  my  breast,  fired,  and  lodged  the  contents  in  Ellen's  body  I 
I  rushed  from  the  room  ;  and  as  I  reached  the  hall-door,  I  heard  the 
Stifled  screams  of  the  servants  as  the  two  burglars  secured  them,  warned 


THRILL^  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 


*™ 


the  side  of  the  boat.    We  then  both  she       h,m 

spite  of  his  most  ^^iSXtS    And  as  ho 
weaker;   «  let  go  our  ^a.dheB^o  ^ 

sank,  what  a  look  he  gave  '*J^e,    From  the  time 
drea-ns,  aye  my 


drea-ns,  aye  m  It  ^  <• 

our  crime  was  committed  we  neUher  spoke  a  -o  ^     x 

my  partner  in  guilt  rowed  us  ashore^  He  ^    t  t  ^      ^ 
handed  him  the  price  nominated  for  1 

we  parted.                                 *            *            *  * 

*  T  am  still  free,-wandering  about  and 

Nine  months  have  gone  by.       am  stO  1      ^  ^  ^  ^ 

knowing  not  where  to  lay  my  head      J  g  ^  ^^. 

» 


in  of 


JOURNAL  OF  HENRY  MADISON.  25 

y*st  a  few  hundred  dollars  left.     In  an  old  paper  which  I  took  up  acci 
dentally,  my  eye  was  caught  by  the  following :   * 

"  SAN  FRANCISCO. — The  whole  of  our  city  has  been  thrown  into 
greater  excitement  (save  by  the  revolutionary  cities  of  Europe),  than 
we  have  ever  heard  or  read  of.  The  circumstances,  as  near  as  we  can 
gather,  are  as  follows :  On  Thursday  last,  the  bark  Mary  was  to  sail  for 
Liverpool.  A  large  portion  of  the  cargo  belonged  to  Mr.  Henry  Madi 
son,  well  known  to  the  mercantile  world.  On  Wednesday  evening  rather 
late  Mr.  Madison,  accompanied  by  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Wilson,  came 
along  side  of  the  vessel,  rowed  by  a  single  man.  Mr.  Madison  inquired 
of  the  mate  whether  all  his  goods  were  aboard,  and  was  answered  in  the 
affirmative.  Wishing  the  mate  good-night,  the  boat  pulled  toward  the 
shore. 

"  In  the  morning,  when  inquiry  was  made  for  Mr.  Madison,  as  a  sad  oc 
currence  had  taken  place  at  his  residence,  which  we  shall  presently  relate, 
he  was  nowhere  to  be  found  ;  neither  were  his  companions,  Mr.  Wilson,  or 
the  boatman.  Strict  inquiries  were  made,  and  the  vessel  alluded  to  was 
boarded.  The  mate  stated  what  we  have  already  placed  before  our  read 
ers.  On  the  return  of  the  boat  from  the  vessel  they  discovered  the  head 
of  a  man  above  water.  They  rowed  quickly  toward  it,  and  were  horri 
fied  in  finding  it  to  be  the  body  of  one  of  those  for  whom  they  were 
searching,  Mr.  Wilson ;  they  took  the  body  in  and  came  ashore.  In 
the  course  of  the  day,  the  boat  in  which  the  drowned  man  and  Mr. 
Madison  were  known  to  have  been  in,  was  found  driven  by  the  tide 
beating  against  one  of  the  south  wharves.  No  sign  or  trace  of  the  boat 
man  has  been  discovered.  As  each  incident  of  this  most  extraordi 
nary  occurrence  has  only  reached  us  piece  by  piece,  our  readers  must 
pardon  us  for  not  giving  it  in  a  more  regular  form.  We  now  give  a 
few  more  particulars  regarding  this  mysterious  transaction,  and  hope  in 
our  second  edition  to  place  before  our  readers  full  particulars  in  a  con 
densed  form  of  the  whole  story.  On  Wednesday  evening  about  half- past 


26  THRILLING  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 

seven  o'clock,  the  report  of  a  pistol,  proceeding  from  their  mistress's 
chamber,  was  heard  by  the  servants  of  Mr.  Madison,  who  lives  in  the 
outlets  of  the  city.  They,  with  one  accord,  rushed  up  stairs,  but 
found  the  door  which  led  from  the  kitchen  to  the  apartments  above 
fastened  on  the  other  side.  On  their  descending  again  to  obtain  some 
weapon  whereby  to  burst  the  door  in,  two  men  with  their  faces  blackened 
and  well  armed,  rushed  into  the  kitchen,  and,  before  the  servants  were 
able  to  make  any  resistance,  firmly  secured  them.  They  then  proceeded 
to  rifle  the  house.  They  first  went  to  the  butler's  pantry  where  the 
plate  was  kept,  and  finding  sufficient  there  to  satisfy  their  fastidious  taste, 
they  decamped,  leaving  the  unfortunate  servants  in  durance  vile.  They 
remained  in  this  unpleasant  situation  till  the  morning,  when  the  milkman, 
who  came  in  by  the  rear  of  the  house,  relieved  their  excitement  and  sus 
pense.  Notice  was  immediately  dispatched  to  the  city,  and  the  mayor, 
accompanied  by  three,  officers,  proceeded  to  the  spot.  What  was  their 
horror,  on  arriving  there,  to  find  the  body  of  Mrs.  Madison  weltering  in 
blood,  and  her  infant  child  smothered  oy  her  side,  from  the  blood  that 
flowed  from  the  pistol  shot  that  killed  her !  We  can  inform  our  readers 
no  further,  but  hope  in  our  second  edition  to  be  able  to  announce  the  ar 
rest  of  the  villains  and  perpetrators  of  this  most  murderous  outrage." 

Let  me  pen  the  rest  quickly.  I  have  one  crime  more  to  relate  ere  I 
extinguish  that  life  which  has  been  a  curse  to  the  world,  and  a  burden  to 
myself. 

I  left  New  York  and  went  to  Boston.  I  had  ftot  been  more  than 
three  months  there,  when,  one  day,  I  met  Ellen  Stevens.  She  was  little 
altered.  We  both  started  on  recognizing  one  another.  I  felt  that  I  was 
in  her  power  ;  that  she,  if  no  other  one,  truly  devised  the  San  Francisco 
affair.  I  thought  it  best  to  curry  favor  with  her,  secure  her  friendship, 
and  then  take  my  own  time  and  place  to  get  rid  of  her.  Love  of  life 
now  predominated  over  all  other  feelings,  either  of  revenge,  hatred,  or 
elfish  gratification. 


JOURNAL  OF  HENRY  MADISON.  27 

I  feared  the  punishment  from  man  due  for  rny  crimes,  and  thwefor* 
dreaded  to  meet  my  God. 

Ellen  Stevens  received  my  overtures,  and  we  became  more  closely 
bound  than  ever ;  however,  as  we  were  both  fond  of  pleasure,  oui 
funds,  which  were  already  scanty,  began  quickly  to  disappear.  She  pro 
posed  for  us  to  go  to  her  father's,  in  the  village  of  Cambridge  near  Bos 
ton,  who  had  often  written  to  her  to  come  and  visit  him  and  her  mother 
both  understanding  her  to  be  married.  As  she  stated  they  had  some 
money  which  we  might  be  able  to  secure ;  and  as  I  had  become  a 
gambler  and  a  drunkard,  in  addition  to  my  other  heinous  villanies,  I 
neither  heeded  nor  cared  whither  I  went  or  what  became  of  me. 

We  accordingly  started  for  the  old  couple's.  I  passed  as  Ellen's  hus 
band.  They  received  us  affectionately.  Little  did  they  imagine  the 
viper  they  were  receiving  into  the  bosom  of  their  friendship, 

We  stopped  for  four  weeks.  Getting  tired  of  the  monotonous  course 
of  life  which  they  pursued,  1  inquired  of  Stevens  what  she  meant  to  do  I 
,iShe  replied  :  stop  with  her  father  and  mother,  repent  the  past,  and  en 
deavor  to  behave  better  for  the  future — and  she  hoped  I  would  leave,  as 
if  on  business — a  few  days  after  my  absence  she  would  break  all  to  her 
parents,  pledging  her  most  solemn  oath,  that  she  would  never  tell  aught 
concerning  my  past  life.  flttGKOtt  Lib: 


I  agreed  to  this,  and  left  the  house,  resolving  to  be  avenged,  and  to 
make  sure  of  her  death  who  held  my  life  in  her  hands.  I  repaired  to 
the  village  inn,  and  on  entering  the  bar-room,  I  rejoiced  to  see  the  boat 
man  of  San  Francisco.  His  appearance  there  at  the  very  time  I  needed 
such  service  as  he  could  render,  seemed  almost  as  if  the  evil  one  had 
specially  sent  him  there  to  help  to  pkinge  me  into  more  crime. 

Our  arrangements  were  quickly  made.  We  were  to  attack  the  farmer's 
house  that  night.  I  promised  McGee,  the  boatman,  a  rich  booty. 

Night  came.  We  reached  the  family  yard.  No  lights  burned  in  the 
house.  When  we  were  within  forty  yards  of  the  house,  a  dog  began  to 


28  THRILLING  EXTRACTS,  ETC. 

bark  furiously  ;  a  window  was  raised,  and  a  voice,  which  I  recognized 
to  be  the  old  man's,  demanded,  "  Who  is  there."  We  still  advanced. 
Th^  question  was  again  asked.  No  reply  from  us  was  given.  A  gun 
shot — and  McGee  fell  a  corpse.  I  rushed  to  the  hall  door,  and  with  a 
email  crow-bar  which  I  had  taken  from  McGee  as  he  fell,  burst  it  open. 
I  rushed  up  stairs,  and  at  the  door  of  his  room  met  the  farmer  armed, 
and  about  to  fire  !  In  a  second,  I  dashed  the  gun  from  his  hand,  and 
with  one  blow  laid  him  lifeless.  His  wife,  alarmed  by  the  fall  of  her 
husband,  had  risen  from  the  bed,  and  was  rushing  to  his  aid,  when  I 
served  her  in  the  same  manner. 

Footsteps  coming  up  the  stairs  now  warned  me  to  depart.  I  leaped 
from  the  window,  and  narrowly  escaped  being  caught  by  two  laborers, 
that  had  come  from  the  rear  of  the  house. 

I  fled  ;  I  reached  the  village ;  waited  till  the  earliest  dawn,  and  then, 
hiring  a  horse  from  a  party  who  knew  me,  started  for  Boston.  Ar 
rived  there,  I  put  up  the  horse  at  a  stable,  saying  I  would  call  again, 
and  started  by  train  for  New  Jersey.  I  arrived  at  Camden,  stayed  a 
day  there — my  mind  in  a  state  of  madness. 

********* 

It  must  be  so  —  life  is  no  longer  endurable — I  will  die  —  the  river 
flows  swiftly  by  —  no  eye  is^pon  me  — this  rock  suits  well  my  pur 
pose —  the  pistol  fired — and  I  drop  into  the  stream  to  be  hurled  into 
the  ocean's  depth.  Farewell  then  to  life  !  —  which  to  some  has  been  a 
blessing,  but  to  me  a  curse.  One  gratification  bears  me  through  —  I 
ain  revenged  on  those  who  did  me  harm ! ! 


APPENDIX. 

THE  body  of  Madiscx.  was  found  lying  on  the  rock,  on  which  he  was 
seated  when  he  committed  the  act  of  suicide;  he  had  apparently  fallen 
backward  on  the  discharge  of  the  pistol.  The  top  of  the  skull  was 
blown  off,  a  portion  of  the  brain  was  scattered  on  the  rock,  and  the 
weapon,  with  which  he  committed  the  act,  lay  by  his  side. 

The  journal  from  which  the  foregoing  extracts  were  taken,  was  found 
on  his  person. 

The  curiosity  of  the  reader  will  undoubtedly  be  excited,  and  indeed 
he  will  be  anxious  to  know  the  subsequent  fate  of  Ellen  Stevens,  who, 
according  to  the  tenor  of  the  journal,  was  left  at  Cambridge. 

On  the  discovery  of  the  body  and  papers  of  Madison  an  inquest  was 
held  on  the  body,  and  the  papers  were  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the 
police  of  Camden.  A  telegraphic  communication  was  sent  to  Cam 
bridge  ;  the  premises  of  Ellen's  father  were  searched,  but  it  appears 
that  she  had  decamped,  from  the  fact  that  she  was  not  to  be  found. 

The  police  of  Boston  and  the  neighboring  towns  were  then  put  on 
the  alert,  but  their  vigilance  failed  in  the  apprehension  of  the  criminal. 
She  was  then  advertised  in  the  public  prints,  but  with  no  better  suc 
cess.  No  intelligence  could  be  obtained  of  her,  until  about  a  year 
after  the  discovery  of  the  body  of  Madison.  A  girl  calling  herself 
Adeline  Myers,  was  at  that  time  arrested,  and  executed  in  California, 
at  the  instance  of  the  Vigilance  Committee,  on  a  charge  of  murder. 

Adeline,  on  being  convicted  of  the  charge  on  which  she  was 
arraigned,  confessed  herself  as  the  original  Ellen  Stevens,  and  made 
disclosures  which  led  to  the  following  information : 

It  appears  that,  with  the  death  of  her  parents,  vanished  all  her  reso 
lution  with  regard  to  reformation. 

The  assassination  of  her  parents,  at  that  particular  time,  naturally 
led  her  to  suppose,  that  Madison  was  in  some  way  connected  with  the 
act,  and  that  he  had  some  ultimate  design  with  regard  to  herself.  She, 
therefore,  availed  herself  of  the  opportunity  to  get  possession  of  such 

money  and  valuables,  as  were  then  in  her  father's  house,  and  made  her 

(31) 


32  *  APPENDIX. 

way  to  the  city  of  New  York,  assuming  the  name  of  Harriet  Frame, 
She  there  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  situation  as  waiting-maid  to  an 
elderly  lady,  who  chanced  to  be  married  to  a  young  man  of  good 
appearance  and  address,  and  who,  it  appears,  had  married  the  lady  on 
account  of  her  fortune. 

The  age  of  the  lady  was  forty-nine,  that  of  the  gentleman  only 
twenty-two.  The  family  name  was  Master. 

"Whether  or  riot  the  gentleman  had  been  addicted  to  profligacy 
previous  to  his  marriage,  we  have  no  account. 

The  disparity  of  the  ages,  however,  of  the  married  pair,  would  lead 
us  to  suppose,  that  there  could  be  but  little  of  affection  existing 
between  the  couple. 

The  health  of  Mrs*  Master  being  delicate,  she  spent  most  of  her 
time  in  travel ;  that  mode  of  living  having  been  recommended  by  her 
physicians. 

At  the  time  of  the  engagement  made  with  Ellen,  Mrs.  Master  and 
her  husband  were  preparing  for  a  tour  through  the  northern  part  of 
the  States,  by  way  of  Niagara  and  Detroit,  and  thence  to  St.  Louis. 

The  preceding  extracts  have  said  but  little  of  the  comparative 
beauty  of  Ellen.  We  may  safely  say,  however,  that,  compared  with 
that  of  Mrs.  Master,  the  preponderance  was  decidedly  in  her  favor. 

Ellen,  also,  being  considerably  the  younger  of  the  two,  her  health 
being  unaffected,  and  vivacity  being  somewhat  a  feature  in  her  compos 
ition,  it  is  scarcely  to  be  wondered  at,  that  she  should  receive  a  share  of 
attention  from  Mr.  Master. 

All  things  being  in  readiness  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Master,  accompanied  by 
Ellen,  set  out  on  their  journey.  Nothing  of  importance  occurred  until 
they  reached  Niagara. 

At  that  place  the  visible  dislike  of  Mr.  Master  for  his  consort,  was 
first  made  manifest.  In  fact,  it  was  at  that  place  he  formed  the  reso 
lution  of  ridding  himself  of  her,  by  some  means. 

Many  induced  her,  on  account  of  her  infirmities,  to  give  him  full 
power  as  to  the  management  of  her  estate,  &c.,  he  could  lay  his  plans 
with  perfect  security,  so  far  as  the  loss  of  property  was  concerned. 

Ellen  was  not  tardy  in  observing  the  dislike  of  the  husband  for  the 


APPENDIX.  33 

wife,  and  she  determined  to  profit  by  it,  as  far  as  circumstances  would 
admit.  She,  therefore,  spared  no  pains,  nor  neglected  any  artifice,  to 
ingratiate  herself  into  the  favor  of  Mr.  Master. 

As  matters  were  progressing  from  one  step  to  another,  Mrs.  Master 
could  not  help  noticing  the  preference  which  her  husband  entertained 
for  her  maid,  and  at  length  began  to  take  measures  for  her  dismissal, 
but  a  trial  soon  proved  that  her  efforts  were  altogether  futile.  Having 
become  satisfied  of  her  impotence,  she  was  under  the  necessity  of 
bearing  the  insult  of  her  position,  with  as  good  grace  as  the  nature  of 
woman  could  admit. 

When  about  to  leave  Niagara,  a  plan  was  devised  by  Mr.  Master 
and  Ellen,  to  rid  themselves  of  Mrs.  Master  before  their  departure, 
and  journey  without  her. 

Accordingly,  when  all  things  were  arranged  for  their  departure, 
they  induced  Mrs.  Master,  one  evening,  after  the  shades  of  night  had 
settled,  to  walk  with  them  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Falls.  They 
managed  to  induce  her  to  walk  near -the  precipice,  then,  they  gently 
and  in  a  very  apparently  proudly  manner,  raised  her  over  the  pre 
cipice — when,  accidently  letting  go  their  hold,  they  let  her  drop 
and  left  her  playing  with  the  bubbles  of  water  below. 

Having  thus  dispatched  his  wife  on  her  final  journey,  Mr.  Master 
and  his  paramour  hastened  to  a  conveyance  which  they  had  prepared 
for  the  occasion,  and  drove  immediately  to  Chippewa.  Thence  they 
crossed  to  Buffalo  and  took  passage  for  Detroit. 

Arrived  at  Detroit,  Master  disguised  himself  with  a  wig,  mustachios, 
&c.,  and  assumed  the  name  of  Fenton;  Ellen,  of  course,  became  Mrs. 
Fenton. 

Being  now  possessed  of  unbounded  wealth,  and  Fenton,  also,  being 
somewhat  accomplished  in  music,  and  those  little  "et  ceteroes"  which 
are  calculated  to  make  one  agreeable,  they  found  no  difficulty  of  ming 
ling  in  the  best  society,  and  of  allaying  suspicion  of  any  kind. 

Detroit,  however,  was  not  the  kind  of  a  place  to  detain  them  long, 
it  being  more  in  accordance  with  their  disposition  to  seek  some  larger 
city,  in  which  places  of  amusement  were  conducted  on  a  larger  and 

more  magnificent  scale.    They,  therefore,  took  a  formal  farewell  of  the 
3 


84  APPENDIX. 

acquaintances  which  they  had  formed  during  their  stay  at  the  "Bidela 
House"  of  that  city,  and  started  in  a  private  conveyance,  through  the 
southern  part  of  Michigan,  traveling  in  the  direction  of  Toledo,  in  the 
northern  part  of  Ohio. 

There  being  nothing  in  Toledo  of  sufficient  moment  to  detain  them, 
they  drove  immediately  to  the  "  Island  House,"  discharged  their  con 
veyance,  took  some  little  refreshments,  and  immediately  engaged  a 
passage  to  Cincinnati. 

At  Toledo,  a  circumstance  occurred,  which  liked  to  have  proved 
fatal  to  the  further  progress  of  the  guilty  pair. 

Toledo,  it  should  be  observed,  is  situated  at  the  head  of  navigation, 
or  near  the  western  extremity  of  Lake  Erie,  is  the  great  thoroughfare 
of  the  tide  of  emigration  which  is  flowing  West,  via  the  "  Lake  Shore 
Railroad."  It  is  also  the  starting  point  for  trains  to  different  parts 
of  the  States  of  Ohio,  Michigan  and  Indiana. 

Whilst  waiting  the  time  of  the  train  for  Cincinnati,  Ellen,  in  the 
temporary  absence  of  Fenton,  turned  her  attention  to  her  personal 
appearance — being,  in  perfect  accordance  with  human  nature  in  such 
cases,  anxious  to  stand  as  high  in  the  affections  of  her  pretended 
husband,  as  neatness  in  the  dress,  and  other  matters  connected  with 
the  person,  could  please  him. 

The  accommodations  in  the  "  Ladies  Parlor"  of  that  house  offering 
such  superior  facilities  for  adjustment,  Ellen  did  not  fail  to  avail 
herself  of  the  opportunity  to  scan  herself  before  the  extensive  mirror. 

She^  accordingly  unveiled  herself,  and  while  in  the  act  of  contem 
plation,  a  laborer,  formerly  a  resident  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  who  knew 
Ellen,  when  she  resided  at  that  place,  and  who  was  now  emigrating  to 
Indiana,  chanced  to  pass  through  the  hall,  on  his  way  to  the  ticket  office. 

The  door  entering  the  ladies  parlor  was  open  at  the  time,  and  by 
chance,  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  Ellen,  as  she  was  standing  before  the 
mirror.  He,  at  once,  thought  he  recognized  her  features,  but  was  at  a 
loss  to  account  for  her  superb  and  costly  dress.  His  suspicions,  how 
ever,  were  excited,  and  he  determined  to  watch. 

He,  therefore,  seated  himself  in  one  of  the  accomodation  chairs  in 
the  hall,  and  opposite  the  door  entering  the  parlor. 


APPENDIX.  35 

Presently  Fenton  made  his  appearance,  and  escorted  his  lady  to  tho 
cars. 

The  laborer  then  enquired  of  the  landlord,  who,  it  appears,  by  some 
means,  had  learned  the  name  of  Fenton,  although  his  name  was  not 
entered  on  the  book.  On  hearing  that  the  name  was  Fenton,  the 
laborer  concluded  there  must  be  some  mistake,  and  let  the  matter  drop. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenton  were  now  snugly  escorted  in  the  cars  for 
Cincinnati,  with  no  other  object  in  view  than  the  pursuit  of  pleasure ; 
and  the  abundant  means  which  they  now  had  at  their  disposal,  rendered 
it  possible  for  them  to  gratify  their  desires,  so  far  as  desire  can  be 
gratified,  by  any  earthly  enjoyment. 

Arrived  at  Cincinnati,  they  put  up  at  the  "Burnet  House,"  at  which 
place  they  remained  for  a  time,  and  occupied  themselves  in  visiting 
the  theaters,  and  such  other  places  of  amusement,  as  the  city  at  that 
time  afforded. 

"  Variety  is  the  spice  of  life,"  is  an  old  adage,  and  experience  taught 
Mr.  pJid  Mrs.  Fenton  its  truth.  Having  remained  in  Cincinnati,  until 
they  had  become  cloyed  with  the  amusements  afforded  by  that  place, 
they  concluded  to  set  forward,  in  quest  of  other  objects  of  enjoyment. 

In  pursuance  of  this  design,  they  embarked  for  St.  Louis,  at  which 
place,  they  arrived  in  safety. 

Here,  again,  Ellen  was  recognized  by  some  person,  and  as  she  was 
promenading  one  evening,  in  company  with  Fenton,  she  was  accosted 
as  Miss  Stevens. 

The  address  of  the  person  alarmed  her,  but  as  the  person  who 
addressed  her  disappeared  immediately  in  the  crowd,  and  was  obscured 
by  the  shades  of  the  night,  she  lost  sight  of  him,  and  consequently  had 
no  means  of  ascertaining  by  whom  she  was  recognized. 

Guilt  is  always  cowardly,  and  fear  immediately  took  possession  of 
the  bosom  of  Ellen.  She  determined  immediately  to  take  further 
measures  against  recognition,  and  possible  apprehension. 

Concealing  her  real  object  from  Fenton,  she  proposed  to  him,  as  a 
sort  of  novelty,  that  she  should  dress  herself  in  male  attire,  that  they 
should  provide  themselves  each  with  a  mule,  and  that  they  should  tako 
an  overland  route  to  California. 


M    ,  APPENDIX. 

Fenton,  whose  affection  for  Ellen,  was  as  yet  unalloyed,  -without 
much  hesitation,  assented  to  the  proposal. 

Accordingly,  they  made  arrangements  for  the  journey,  and  embarked 
in  company  with  a  caravan,  then  about  to  start  for  Santa  Fe. 

Nothing  extraordinary  occurred  on  the  route ;  they  saw  the  usual 
number  of  Indians  and  buffaloes,  slept  on  the  prairie,  killed  rattle 
snakes,  forded  rivers,  crossed  mountains,  arrived  safe  at  Santa  Fe,  and 
ultimately  at  San  Francisco. 

Here,  however,  affairs  took  a  change. 

"Whether  the  appearance  of  Ellen,  in  her  male  attire,  was  too  mascu 
line,  or  whether  it  was  from  some  other  cause,  yet,  it  is  certain,  that 
the  affection  of  Fenton  for  his  paramour,  began  to  decline. 

Subsequently,  he  fell  in,  with  what,  in  common  parlance,  is  called  a 
"flashy  piece,"  from  New  Orleans. 

Ellen  now  became  altogether  supplanted,  and  finally,  was  cast  off 
entirely.  She  at  this  time  took  the  name  of  Adeline  Myers. 

Destitution  created -a  desire  for  revenge,  and  revenge  she  was  c'eter- 
mined  to  have. 

Accordingly,  she  provided  herself  with  a  dirk,  and  watching  her 
opportunity,  as  Fenton,  on  one  occasion,  was  walking  with  his  new 
mistress,  she  stabbed  him  to  the  heart. 

A  mob  was  the  natural  consequence,  and  some  of  the  "Vigilance 
Committee"  happening  to  be  on  the  ground,  Ellen  was  immediately 
arrested. 

She  protested  against  the  legality  of  her  arrest,  imprisonment,  and 
the  subsequent  trial,  which  was  granted  her,  in  accordance  with  the 
forms  adopted  by  the  Committee.  She  was  constrained,  however,  to 
succumb  to  the  principle,  that  "  might  makes  right,"  and  was  ordered 
to  prepare  for  execution. 

A  clergyman  was  provided  for  her,  at  the  instance  of  the  Committee. 
When  on  the  scaffold,  she  was  asked,  if  she  had  any  thing  to  say,  or 
any  thing  to  disclose. 

She  then  avowed  herself  as  the  original  Ellen  Stevens,  stated  the 
circumstances  attendant  upon  her  brief  career,  and  died,  protesting 
against  the  legality  of  the  acts  of  the  "Vigilance  Committee. " 


